Refrigerator cabinet and means for mounting a compressor and condenser therein



G. K. IWASHITA REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING A COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER THEREIR Filed May 29,, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2,446,876 ET AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND CONDENSER THEREIN I 3 Sheets-Shoat 2 m H m m K. a

REFRIGERATOR CABIN A COMPRESSOR Filed May 29, 1943 G. K. IWASHITA REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND MEANS FOR-MOUNTING A COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER THEREIN Filed May 29, 1943 3' Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 10, 1948 REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING A COMPRESSOR AND CON- DENSER THEREIN George K. Iwashita, Indianapolis, Ind, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1943, Serial No. 489,023

7 Claims. (Cl. 62-115) This invention relates to refrigerating mechanism, and particularly to the construction and mounting of the compressor and condenser units which form component parts thereof.

The primary object is to improve the efficiency of a natural draft condenser by increasing the cooling effect of the air flow over the condenser. This may be accomplished by tilting the condenser to an oblique angle when installing it. Upward air flow under the natural draft created by the rising of condenser heated air is more widely distributed over the condenser heat transfer surface.

A further object is to provide an adjustable mounting for the condenser in order that it may be set at an oblique angle during operation, but may remain substantially vertical during handling and shipping of the refrigerator unit to conserve space and lower shippin and crating costs.

Yet another object is to mount a compressor unit in such a way as to minimize the effect of compressor vibration on the refrigerator cabinet. This may be accomplished by utilizing a double three-point mounting, the compressor being tripod mounted on a base and the base in turn being tripod mounted in the refrigerator cabinet in such a way that the mounting of the base in the refrigerator cabinet is angularly offset with respect to the mounting of the compressor on the base.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my inventiomwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a refrigerator unit, having a portion cut away to show the mounting of the condenser and compressor;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged close-up of the condenser of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged close-up of said condenser showing it in position for shipping;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the lower part of the refrigerator unit, showing the condenser and condenser mounting;

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the condenser mounting of Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a. plan view of the condenser and condenser mounting of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken through the refrigerator on the line 1-1 of Fig, 1, and showing in plan view the compressor and the mounting therefor.

As shown in Fig. 1, the refrigerator construction includes an upper or storage compartment II and a lower compartment i2 which houses a compressor unit i3 and a condenser unitlt. vaporized refrigerant at a low pressure is drawn from an evaporator unit (not shown), through a conduit I5 into the intake side of the compressor. From the compressor it is forced through con duit IE to the condenser.

The particular type of condenser used is not vital to the invention. The condenser illustrated (seen most clearly in Fig. 4) comprises a bank of tubes l1, formed into a continuous conduit by curves Ill. The refrigerant is conducted by the pipe iii to the highest tube of the condenser, and it issues from the lower end of the condenser into a conduit is which conducts it back into the evaporator unit to complete the cycle.

During the flow of the refrigerant through the condenser tubing, it is cooled and liquefied, transferring its heat to the air which, at room temperature, is nevertheless below the liquefying temperature of the high pressure vapor. This air, as indicated by the arrows in- Fig. 2, is drawn from below the condenser and, after being heated, flows upward under the impulse of its natural draft through a stack 20, which is a three-sided chimney open at both top and bottom, and which may conveniently be mounted on the refrigerator cabinet, the rear of the refrigerator cabinet serving as the fourth side of the chimney enclosure. This stack is preferably formed as a 'demountable unit which may be attached to the refrigerator upon installation by means of flanges 20a. and 20b shown in Fig. 7.- These flanges may be formed at the time of installation. During shipment the stack is preferably bent only along the edge 20c and laid against the refrigerator cabinet, as shown by the dotted construction in Fig. 7, taking up a minimum of space.

The condenser coil mounts a plurality of flat. fin forming plates 22 lying side by side across the width of the condenser (see Figs. 4 and 7), the plates having aligned notches extending horizontally, by means of which they are supported on the horizontal tubes ll. The ends plates may be of relatively heavy gauge sheet stock so as to form frame members which are hinged at the top to a support formed by two upright brackets 25 by a pair of hinges 24, each bracket having a turned flange 25a through which it is secured to the cabinet rail 4| and a supporting truss 25b. This hinged construction permits the condenser to be maintained in a substantially vertical position as seen in Fig. 3, or to be maintained in an oblique position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. In the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, the condenser unit as a whole is ideally mounted for handling and shipping of the refrigerator, and the entire construction requires a minimum of space. In the position shown in P18. 2, at an appreciable angle from the vertical, the condenser unit has its maximum operating eiilciency owing to the more uniform distribution of air flow throughout the face area of the condenser.

Locking means for maintaining the condenser unit in either a vertical or an oblique position are provided. The means may comprise one or more holding brackets 46 hinged to the refrigerator base at 46a. Each of these brackets is preferably provided with two openings 26 and 21. An L-shaped bracket 21a is welded to each of the end plates 22 of the condenser; each bracket 21a is provided with a threaded opening 28 in the upstanding leg thereof and a threaded opening 29 in the lower leg thereof. Thus, by using a suitable locking mechanism, as for example a winged screw 30, the condenser may be locked in the oblique position by inserting the screw 30 through the opening 21 in the bracket 48 and screwing it into the complementary opening 28in the bracket 21a, as seen in Fig. 2. or it may be maintained in the vertical position by inserting the winged screw through the opening 23 in each bracket 43 and screwing it int-o the complementary opening 28 in the bracket 21a. as seen in Fig. 3.

A modified means, having greater adjustability, for locking the condenser in the desired position is illustrated in Fig. 5. An arm i pivoted at 52 on the side'of the condenser frame is provided with a slot 53. A headed locking member 54 has a stem extending through an opening 55 formed in a fixed bracket 56 and through the slot 53. When the nut, which fits the lockin member 54, is tightened on the same, it frictionally locks the arm 5| and the condenser in position. As it becomes necessary or desirable to change the angle of the condenser, the arm 5! is moved relative to the bracket 38. the stem of the locking member 54 sliding in the slot '53.

The compressor unit I3 is mounted at points 3|, 32 and 33 on a base which may be formed substantially as a triangle having sides 34, 3Q and 33. The base is mounted at three points 31, 33 and 39 on the horizontal rails 43 and 4i of the refrigerator cabinet, the sides 34 and 33 0f the triangle being extended beyond the ends of the arm 36 to provide mounting points 38 and 39,

and the apex of the angle formed by sides 34 and 35 being flattened to form a ledge 42 extending a short distance on either side of the mounting point 31. and resting on the horizontal rail 40.

The mounting of the base on the cabinet rails is offset with respect to the mounting of the compressor on the base. i. e., the mounting points 31, 33 and 39 are angularly spaced from the mounting points 3|, 32 and 33. To improve the vibration damping characteristics of the mounting, rubber may be used as a medium for mounting the compressor I3 to the members 34, 33 and 33, and the welded joints at 31, 33 and 39 may be changed to permit use of rubber buffer pads between the members 34 and 35 and the rails 40 and 4|.

Because of the inherent flexibility in the sides 34, 33 and 36 of the base, the double three-point suspension decreases the vibration transmitted to the refrigerator body and permits quieter operation. 7

Although my invention has been illustrated by the description of a preferred embodiment thereof. it will be obvious that numerous applications of the invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Because of this. it is my intention in the appended claims to cover not only the illustrated embodiment, but any modifl'cations thereof which come within the scop of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator having a cabinet, the combination of a condenser having a tube forming a coil lying substantially wholly in a single plane. means for hingeably mounting the condenser on the cabinet so as to support the condenser either in a substantially vertical plane .or in an oblique plane, and an air stack arranged to direct an upward flow of air past the condenser, the condenser being substantially wholly enclosed in the lower end of said stack when supported in the oblique plane.

2. In a refrigerator having a cabinet. the combination of a condenser having a tube forming a coil lying substantially wholly in a single plane, and a mounting for said coil including a pair of coil supporting plates, bracket members rigidly secured to the cabinet, and means hingeably connecting said plates to said brackets to permit adjustment in the position of said cell.

3. In a refrigerator having a cabinet, the combination of a condenser having a condensercoil. a mounting for said cell including a pair of coil supporting plates, bracket members rigidly secured to the cabinet, and means hingeably connecting said plates to said bracket members so as to support said coil either in a substantially vertical position or in an oblique position, and means for locking said cell in either position.

4. In a refrigeratorhaving a cabinet, the combination of a condenser coil, means for mounting said coil on the cabinet so as to support said coil either in a substantially vertical position or in an oblique position, said means including a supporting frame rigidly secured to the cabinet, a pair of coil supporting plates pivotally connected to said supporting frame, and means interconnecting at least one of said plates and said frame for locking said coil in the desired position, said last mentioned means including a slotted arm pivotally connected to said plateand a locking element extending through the slot and engaging said frame thereby frictionally to clamp the arm against movement after said coil has been adjusted into position.

5. In a refrigerator having a compressor unit and a cabinet, a mounting for the compressor unit comprising a substantially triangular base providing a substantially three-point mounting for the compressor, the compressor unit mounting points on the base being intermediate the apices thereof, means connecting the apices of the triangular base to the cabinet and other means interconnecting the base to the cabinet. said other means being secured to one leg of said base adjacent its extremities.

6. In a refrigerator having a compressor unit and a cabinet, a mounting for the compressor unit comprising structural members forming a substantially triangular base, two sides of the base being extended beyond the third and having their extended ends secured to the cabinet, the apex formed by said two sides being flattened to form a relatively short supporting surface resting on frame means forming a fixed part of the cabinet, said flattened surface being secured to said fixed part of the cabinet, a compressor casing for the compresser unit having a three-point mounting on said side members of said triangular base, the mounting points of the casing being intermediate the apices of said base and angularly oflset relative thereto, and other frame means interconnecting said base and the cabinet, said other frame means being secured to said third side adjacent its extremities.

7. In a refrigerator having a cabinet, the combination of a condenser coil, means for mounting said cell in said cabinet so as to support said coil in either a vertical position or an oblique position, said means including a pair of coil supporting plates, a supporting frame for said coil rigidly secured to the cabinet, means including said coil supporting plates pivotally connecting said coil to said frame, and means for locking said coil in either position, said last mentioned means comprisin bracket means attached to at least one of said plates, said bracket means having a, pair of flanges, one flange facing generally downwardly and the other flange facing generally outwardly and an opening in each of said flanges, a holding bracket, means hingedly connecting said holding bracket to the cabinet, said holding bracket having a pair of openings spaced at different distances from said hinged connection and adapted to be aligned with said openings in said flanges,

35 Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sturt Feb. 19, 1924 Halnsworth May 12-, 1936 Money Jan. 18, 1938 Number FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 376,491 Italy Nov, 16, 1939 Burggrabe Nov. 18, 1941 

